Recently, we have demonstrated that the reduction in the number of rests of Malassez (RM) according to age may be due to epithelial cell death by apoptosis. It is known that, under experimental or pathological conditions, the epithelial cells of RM can proliferate, resulting in the formation of odontogenic cysts and tumors. In this study, the area of RM profiles and the number of profiles of epithelial cell nuclei/RM were investigated in young and adult rats. Fragments containing upper molars of rats aged 29, 45, and 120 days were fixed, decalcified, and embedded for light microscopy. In the sections stained by hematoxylin and eosin, the numerical density of RM profiles/mm 2 of periodontal ligament, the area of each RM profile and the number of epithelial cell nuclei profile/RM were obtained. Moreover, detection of cytokeratin by immunohistochemistry and ultrastructural analysis of RM were carried out. Smaller RM were found in all groups, but the very large RM were only observed in the 120-day-old rats. The presence of cells in close juxtaposition exhibiting cytokeratin filaments in their cytoplasm, including in the large RM, characterized their epithelial nature. The number of epithelial cells/RM varied proportionally to the area. Moreover, epithelial cells in mitosis were found in small and large RM, indicating that cellular proliferation can be responsible for the enlargement of RM, under physiological conditions. The results suggest that a possible disequilibrium between the proliferative and apoptotic processes can be related to the enlargement of some RM in the 120-day-old rats.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.